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LOCATION
Bainbridge Township, Ohio is located in Geauga County approximately 26 miles south east of Cleveland. Town Center is located where U.S. 422 intersects with State Route 306. Bainbridge Twp. is adjacent to the Village of South Russell to the north, Village of Chagrin Falls to the northwest, Auburn Twp. to the east, City of Solon to the west and the City of Aurora to the south. Several branches of the Chagrin River run through Bainbridge Twp. to the rest of the Chagrin Valley.
Tanglewood Golf Community, Lucerne Lake Community, Spring Valley, Pilgrim Village, Lake-in-the-Woods, Canyon Lakes, Timber Trails, Chagrin Falls Park and Stoneybrook are just some of the residential developments that exist in Bainbridge Township. Theme parks Geauga Lake Amusement Park and Sea World of Ohio are also located in Bainbridge Twp. There are several large horse facilities, athletic clubs and recreational facilities located in the township, including the Centerville YMCA. HISTORY In 1803, Ohio
became the 17th state in the union from Many of the names in Bainbridge Twp. as well as Geauga Co. come from names used by the Mound Builder Indians. The word Geauga itself is Indian for "Raccoon", still abundant in the area. Chillicothe Rd. was an Indian path widened for travel by the white man and the route that most of the early settlers used to get to Bainbridge. By the time Bainbridge Twp. was established, most of the Indians had left the area fleeing west to the "plains" or north to Canada to avoid the settlers. In rare occasions, Indians who were not happy with the newcomers on their lands would attack pioneer families. The threat of Indian attack remained until the end of the War of 1812. Any Indians who returned to the area were slained. Many Indian artifacts are still being discovered in Bainbridge Twp. Bainbridge Township was named after Commodore William Bainbridge, an American Navel Hero in command of the U.S.S. Constitution during the War of 1812. Bainbridge Township was established in March of 1817 and at that time, for a couple months, included a portion of what is now Auburn Township. Bainbridge and Auburn are still linked to each other. Both are part of the Kenston School District, named after early settler Gamaliel Kent (Kent's Town). The first settlers of Bainbridge Twp. were the McConoughey family members from Sheffield, Connecticut in 1811 with their farm being located in the SE section of the township. When the McConougheys arrived, Bainbridge was a dense forest loaded with game (and Indians) with a narrow muddy road diving the township center running north and south. This road was wide enough for an oxen cart and named after the Northwest Territory's capital, Chillicothe. Bainbridge Twp. developed over the next 20 years into the leading dairy producer in the area. Aurora to the south, was the world's largest producer of cheese in the early 1800's, getting much of their dairy product from farms in Bainbridge Twp. Other exports to Cleveland from these farms were beef, butter, cheese, wheat, apples, potatoes, cider, corn and maple syrup. Because of the many streams and rivers in this region, mill sites were plentiful. Many tradesman, blacksmith, and carpenters came to the area. Bainbridge began to prosper as one of the leading communities of Geauga County. Centerville Mill (the mill between two "villes"), the largest mill in the area at the Bainbridge/Aurora township limits, was seven stories high and attracted customers from four counties. This mill was built in 1811 and operated in many capacities for over 100 years before being destroyed by a fire. In the early 1920's, the automobile made it easy for people to travel from Bainbridge to Cleveland. Many farmers now worked higher paying factory jobs in the City of Cleveland, with the Industrial Revolution underway. The automobile also brought ill reputable people to Bainbridge. Being just over the county lines and with less aggressive law enforcement, many gambling houses and supper clubs were being built attracting wise guy type gangsters and wealthy richly Cleveland anti-prohibitionists. Various types of somewhat illegal enterprises could be found out of the reach of the pesky Cuyahoga Co. Sheriff. Most of these establishments are attributed to the modernization of Bainbridge with the addition of paved highways and electricity to accommodate these prosperous and powerful places of business. Most of these establishments, in time, were shut down or destroyed by fire. Development was steady but slow until the 1960's with the sudden increase of people desiring to move into the area from the City of Cleveland. Bainbridge Township was close enough to Cleveland to get to work, but in an entirely different county not associated to the big city. Many prominent and wealthy businessmen began to move into the area mixing an upper class influence to the totally rural atmosphere. Some Farms still thrived while their neighbors lands were developed. This blend is what makes Bainbridge Twp. the community it is presently. Many descendents of the original settlers still reside here in Bainbridge while it still is subject to growth and development. The rural setting of Geauga County and the sophisticated charm of the Chagrin Valley result in the ideal environment and a wonderful friendly community.
This site is provided by the Bainbridge Township Fire
Department for the community that we faithfully serve.
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Bainbridge Township has approximately 10,000 residents in almost 4,000 households
contained in 16,000 acres and 25 square miles. There is some commercial and light
industrial areas but the majority of the township is zoned and developed residential.
Recently, there is a dramatic boost in the development of this area, in part, because of
the completion of U.S. Highway 422 that runs through the center of the township. Plentiful
rivers, streams and natural springs make this area a water rich community.
lands formerly known as the Northwest Territory.
Shortly afterwards, surveyors divided the northeastern part of the state, the Western
Reserve Territory, into counties and townships. Geauga County was the second county
created in Ohio and the largest county for many years until the Ohio counties were
re-divided and the northern portion along Lake Erie was made into Lake County. In 1804, a
devastating tornado destroyed portions of Geauga Co. and was the first recorded tornado in
Ohio history.